Crimping device



May 22, 1962 E. R. MARK CRIMPING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 20, 1960 INVENTOR.

EDWARD R. MARK ATTORNEYS May 22, 1962 E. R. MARK CRIMPING DEVICE Filed April 20, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDWARD R MARK ATTORNEYS United States Patent 9 3,035,627 CRIMPING DEVICE Edward R. Mark, 5642 SE. Woodstock St., Portland, Oreg. Filed Apr. 20, 1960, Ser. No. 23,512 2 Claims. (Cl. 153-11) This invention relates to a cable handling device, and has as its primary object the provision of an improved hydraulic apparatus for placing ferrules on the ends of cables.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a device wherein parts may be readily interchanged for functioning with cables for other purposes, such as squaring and cutting the ends of the cable, or crimping the ferrule after application, in another form of securing a ferrule to a cable, or the like.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character for securing a ferrule to the ends of the cable by means of the application of wedges between the strands of the cable.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a device which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eflicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble and utilize.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of one form of apparatus embodying features of the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational View taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, parts thereof being sections for the sake of clarity in illustration.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the device taken substantially along the line 33 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, certain parts being cut away for clarity in illustration.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the center line of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the hydraulic mechanism associated with the device.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic diagrammatic View of the hydraulic system.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially in section, showing a wire cutting attachment associated with the device.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary top plan view, partially in section, of certain portions of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 7.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially sectioned, showing another attachment for the end of the device in operation.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, the apparatus of the instant invention, generally indicated at 10, comprises a pair of generally rectangular confronting header plates 11 and 12, each provided with an opposed circular flange 13 and 14, respectively, about which flanges is positioned a cylindrical sleeve or shell 15 forming a cylinder. Suitable sealing rings 16 are provided surrounding the flanges 13 and 14 in order to render the cylinder fluid tight.

The headers 11 and 12 are provided with aligned bores 3,035,627 Patented May 22, 1962 17 and 18, respectively, through which extends a sleeve 19, having a threaded portion 20, which has threaded thereonto a piston 21 which is movable within the cylinder formed by sleeve 15, in a manner and for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter. Sealing gaskets 22 and 23 are positioned around the piston 21 and the opposite ends of sleeve 19, respectively.

A flange 25 on the outer end of header 11 carries a cable clamping assembly generally indicated at 26, which comprises, as best shown in FIGURE 2 a pair of spaced parallel bars 27 and 28 which are pivotally mounted on pivots 29 and 36, respectively, at their lower ends. The upper end of plate 27 carries a bore 31, while the upper end of plate 28 is slotted as at 32. A bolt 33 extends through the bore and slot respectively, and is held in position by means of a clamping nut 35. The confronting faces of bars 27 and 2d are provided with serrated grooves 36, within which grooves a cable 37 is adapted to be clampingly engaged by tightening the nut 35. Obviously, release of the nut 35 and bolt 33 will permit the clamping members 27 and 28 to be swung apart about their respective pivots to release their engagement with the cable 37.

An elongated rod 40 is fixedly secured in aligned bores and each of the opposite corners of header plates 11 and 12, the rods extending beyond the outer side of header 12 and being enlarged as at 41 to form a rectangular guide surface. Each rod has a reduced portion 42 adjacent its outer end and a head 43. The heads 43 are adapted to extend through the enlarged portions 44 of upper keyhole slots and an end plate 45, while the lower rods fit into slots 46 in the lower portion of the end plate. Plate 45 has an inwardly extending boss 46 provided with a central threaded bore 47 in which is engaged a threaded die holding member 48. The die holding member 48 is provided with a projecting extremity 49 and a cross handle 50, by rotation of which a die carried by the die holder may be moved toward and away from the opposed end of sleeve 19 for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter. Obviously, by suitable movement of the plate 45 the heads 43 of the upper rods may be so positioned as to pass through the enlarged portions of the keyhole slots, so that the plate 45 may be readily removed from the end of the device for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter.

A clamping ring 51 is positioned on the end of threaded member 43 and is adapted, in the illustrative embodiment shown, to hold a plurality of tapered wedges 52, which are adapted to engage the interior of the frayed ends 37a of cable 37, within the tapered inner bore 53 of a ferrule 54. The ferrule is adapted to be held in position by means of a split ring 55, having a tubular projection 56 thereon which engages inside of sleeve 19.

The arrangement is such that with the parts as shown in FIGURE 4, when pressure is exerted on piston 21, in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter, the sleeve 19 and its associated collar 55 and hence ferrule 54 will be moved downwardly over the frayed ends 37a, to clamp the same tightly about the wedges 52. When the wedges 52 are then released by ring 51, the ferrule is tightly and securely clamped in position on the end of the cable 37.

Hydraulic means are provided for actuating the piston 21, and take the form of an operating rod or piston 60, which extends, as best shown in FIGURE 5, into hydraulic cylinder 61, which is suitably threaded into a bore 62 in a valve block 63. Suitable packing 64 is provided interiorly of a clamping nut 66 to render the cylinder fluid tight. The valve block 63 is adapted to be secured in any desired manner, as by means of bolts 67 to a side plate 68, which protects the valve apparatus and which is secured to the headers 11 and 12 by means of bolts 69 (see FIG- URE 1).

Cylinder 61 has a passage 70 extending therefrom which communicates with a recess 71 which contains a spring biased ball check valve 72. The recess communicates through an outlet 73 with the interior of cylinder on the side of the piston opposite the ferrule end, so that fluid introduced by depression of the operating rod 60 will enter the cylinder in such a way as to force the piston toward ferrule clamping position.

The cylinder 15 is constantly filled with hydraulic fluid, and fluid from the opposite side of piston 21 is adapted to pass, as best shown in FIGURE 6 through a return line 74 and a port75 through a spring biased check valve 76 and return line 77 to the bottom of cylinder 61.

The piston 60 is operated as best shown in FIGURE 2 by means of a lever 80, which is pivotally connected at 81 to the end of piston 60, and at its extremity by means of a pivot 82 through link 83, the other end of which is pivoted as at 84 to a pair of projecting lugs 85 carried by the adjacent side plate 68.

After the ferrule has been clamped on the end of the cable the piston 21 is adapted to be returned to inoperative position by means of a manual pry bar, as will be more fully described hereinafter. This operation is permitted by opening an interchange valve 86, which seats in the bore 87 and the top of block 63 and serves when in closed position to close a passage 88, which leads into bore or recess 71 from a line 89, which is connected through a port 90 by a bypass line 91 which extends to the opposite end of the cylinder 15, the arrangement being such that when the valve '86 is opened fluid may circulate freely throughout the system. The valve 86 is provided with the valve stem 92 which extends upwardly above the top of the device, and which may be turned by means of an operating handle 93.

FIGURES 7 and 8 show a modified use of the apparatus in which the collar 55 is supplanted by a dieholder 95, which carries a cable severing blade 96. The dieholder 95 is provided with a suitable recess 97 for engagement by the end of a pry bar 98 which may also be used in conjunction with collar 55 for returning the piston to ready position. The pry bar 98' is adapted to be engaged against a cross bar 99, which is provided with relatively large bore 100 and a slot 100' adapted to encircle rods 41, so that when the bar 99 is angularly disposed as indicated in FIGURE 8, a prying effect may be exerted against the sleeve 19 to force the piston 21 to retracted position. By simply straightening the mark '99, the same may be readily removed from the rods 41 as desired.

When the blade 96 is employed the plate 45 is removed and a substitute plate 101 is positioned on the reduced portions 42 or rods 41, in the same manner as plate 45'. The plate 101 is provided with a boss 102, which contains a slot 103 adapted to receive the blade 96. When it is desired to square the end or sever the cable 37, the cable is positioned transversely in an arcuate slot 104 in the end of boss 102, and the blade actuated by the hydraulic mechanism previously described. It may here be pointed out that movement of the valve 86 is limited to prevent unscrewing of the valve stem completely from the valve block. This limitation is effected by means of a collar 105, which carries a finger 106 which is. engaged by a stop pin "107 carried by the top of valve block 63 after the valve stem 92 has been rotated one complete turn in either direction. The opening thus effected is adequate to accomplish the desired purpose.

FIGURE 9 discloses a further attachment for the device which is adapted to be employed when a relatively long sleeve or ferrule 110 is to be crimped onto a cable 37. Under these conditions a dieholder 111 is fitted in the end of tube 19, the holder being provided with a pair of spaced crimping lugs 112. The plate 45 is replaced by a similar plate 113, which carries a solid boss 114 having a single crimping lug 115 centrally positioned thereon, so that the sleeve 110 is oppositely crimped as shown in FIG- URE 9 upon the actuation of operating handle 80.

Additional appliances or attachments may obviously be employed and substituted for the ferrule holder and wedge holder of FIGS. 1 and 4.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved cable handling device which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a device for placing a ferrule on the end of a cable, in combination, first and second opposed header plates, a hydraulic cylinder extending between said plates, a tube movable in said cylinder, a piston on said tube, a die on one end of said :tube, a plurality of rods extending from the second one of said header plates, a dieholding plate removably mounted on said rods, an opposed die on said die holding plate, and hydraulic means for actuating said piston to engage said first-mentioned die with said opposed die, said hydraulic means including a second hydraulic cylinder, a piston movable in said second cylinder, a connection from said second hydraulic cylinder to said first-mentioned cylinder, a return line from said firstmentioned cylinder to said second hydraulic cylinder, check valves'i-n both of said lines, and an externally positioned operating handle for said second piston.

2. In a device for placing a ferrule on the end of a cable, in combination, first and second opposed header plates, a hydraulic cylinder extending between said plates, a tube movable in said cylinder, a piston on said tube, a die on one end of said tube, a plurality of rods extending from the second one of said header plates, a die holding plate removably mounted on said rods, an opposed die on said die holding plate, and hydraulic means for actuating said piston to engage said first-mentioned die with said opposed die, said hydraulic means including a second hydraulic cylinder, a piston movable in said second cylinder, a connection from said second hydraulic cylinder to said first-mentioned cylinder, a return line from said firstmentioned cylinder to said second hydraulic cylinder, check valves in both of said lines, an externally positioned operating handle for said second piston, a relief line extending from one side of said first-mentioned cylinder to said connection, and a manually operable valve in said relief line.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 878,298 Lichtig Feb. 4, 1908 1,455,953 Wright May 22, 1923 2,340,360 Alden Feb. 1, 1944 2,390,598 Lepkowski Dec. 11, 1945 2,407,855 Stephens Sept. 17, 1946 2,772,715 Neijstrom et a1. Dec. 4, 1956 2,878,854 Batcheller Mar. 24, 1959 ma... a... m" 

